Value of Training and Team Building

In Ecuador, small territorial political units are organized into GADs, which are parish decentralized autonomous government units. A GAD manages its own resources and land use. Through a situational diagnosis, CHOICE Humanitarian analyzed conditions in how the GADs functioned and found inefficiencies that could be improved with training and team building. There had typically been minimal inter-institutional cooperation,  which resulted in suboptimal management, resource planning, and collaboration for the GADs. CHOICE also discovered that parish leaders needed more technical capacity and more citizen participation. Lastly, there was minimal coordination with other levels of government. Due in part to all of these factors, many development projects were only able to focus on infrastructure and did not have equitable distribution.

Capacity for all Stakeholders

CHOICE worked to improve and strengthen the capacities of local government leaders to plan, execute, and evaluate their development and land use strategies. To do that, CHOICE performed a diagnostic based on economic, health, nutrition, and agriculture information at the local level. This resulted in identifying areas of need, after which CHOICE and local leaders were able to prepare plans and projects that would solve the main problems determined by the community. Active participation of the population throughout the process was critical, as was strategic planning with local, international, private, and government institutions. CHOICE and community leaders provided training in management approaches, social projects development, investment projects management, interinstitutional cooperation, foreign resource management, and technical management of investment projects shared with other levels of government.

Collaborating for Impact

As a result of training and mentorship from CHOICE, the GADs leadership was able to improve their selection of sustainable development projects as well as their integration with the community. They also increased their ability to effectively mobilize resources and multiply impact. For example, with an eye toward the future for food security, the GADs leadership helped 1,618 families plant their own gardens. In an effort to enhance these gardens, they brought in 3,920 medicinal plants and 3,710 fruit trees. To also increase family nutrition in the communities, farmers were trained in raising small animals. 1,520 laying hens and 400 guinea pigs were distributed to enhance protein production and consumption. In total, the GADs leadership was able to mobilize $136,910 worth of supplies, and these endeavors improved the food security of the local region. The GADs continue to work together with the communities and CHOICE on driving impact.

Growth Opportunities for Community Members

• In Natabuela Parish, leaders from the parish received fruit trees, vegetables, and medicinal plants to benefit 100 families in this area. The project helped them improve nutrition for their families and created extra produce for them to sell in the market.
  

• Dioselina Churuchumbi, a mother of two children and newly appointed president of the Chilco community, had the challenge of helping her community get through the pandemic. After visiting the families in her area, Dioselina stated that the families that were participating in the food security project were “all happy with this project."

• In Angochagua Parish, the local leaders provided land for individuals and families to plant alfalfa seeds. Fausto Farinango, a youth agricultural promoter, was assigned to oversee the work. Once the plants were grown, they were given to families to expand their crops at home.